MANHATTAN – For the past 20 years, thousands of people enrolled in the Walk Kansas program have walked, biked, swam and moved their bodies in many other ways to improve their physical fitness.
It runs March 27 through May 21, encouraging teams of six to sign up and get moving. Each 15 minutes of activity counts for one mile of distance, and teams track their mileage virtually as they move across pre-determined routes in or across Kansas. More than 6,000 people participated in Walk Kansas last year.
Participants can do the activities on their own, or with an exercise buddy or team member.
Registration will open March 1 or shortly after and will be available online. The cost is $10 per person; a program T-shirt can be purchased separately.
Team registrations require a captain and up to five additional members, who can live anywhere. Individuals can also sign up to complete in their own solo challenge.
This year’s program provides three team challenges:
• Challenge 1 - “8 Wonders of Kansas” trail, requires each person get at least 2 ½ hours of moderate activity per week and challenges the team to travel 480 miles.
• Challenge 2 – “Cross Country Trail” requiring four hours, with the team traveling 768 miles.
• Challenge 3 – “Little Balkans to Nicodemus Trail” that will require six hours, challenging the team to go 1,152 miles.
The solo challenge trail begins in Manhattan at Kansas State University and explores points of interest on a trail to Wichita State University.
All participants will receive a weekly online newsletter with helpful information on physical activity, improving lifestyle habits, nutrition, and healthful recipes.
Program Coordinator Sharolyn Jackson said the benefits of the popular program are many. It is best to take things one step at a time, she said. Small changes lead to better habits, and then to long-term behavior change. Jackson also encouraged Kansans to sign up for the Walk Kansas 5K for the Fight, a fun run or 1.5 mile walk scheduled May 7 to benefit the Johnson Cancer Research Center at Kansas State University. Information on that event will be available soon on the Walk Kansas web page.
More information is available at local extension offices.
